Border on vacuum formed plastic windows?

[ElectricRodeo1]

Hey all,

Does anyone know how model companies get the black border on their vacuum formed plastic windshields? I first noticed it on RevellNASCAR models and Alpha has the black borders on all their windshields/glass as well.

Thanks

Jeff

[CK]

Hi Jeff,

I cannot be sure but it is likely be pad-printed. It is the quickest method on non-flat surface.

[gp-models]

Alpha models does it the same way BBR does it in 1:43, print and cut it`s called cause they print the frame on a flat foil and a plotter cuts it to size. the shape appears when you stick it to the model.
Big companies like Autoart do a print on their injection molded glasses, in germany we call it "Tampondruck", no way to replicate this method at home.

[CK]

Thanks for giving more information.

"Tampondruck" in German is tranlated to "pad printing" by Google translate. This is the process that I think most manufacturers would use.

Yes, it is almost impossible to do this type of printing at home. A soft rubber pad is used to transfer ink from the image etched on a 2D flat plate onto a 3D surface. The image on the flat plate is pre-adjusted so that when it is transferred to the 3D surface it will look right. Do a search on Google, there are a lot of info for it.

[ElectricRodeo1]

Thank you everyone

Jeff